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‘Chill’ royal couple have a ball in Yellowknife

The last few royal tours have been pretty dry, but on this tour, we&rsquo;ve had a helicopter landing, a dragon boat race, a cooking class, and a spot of ball hockey in Yellowknife.

Prince William and his wife Catherine react after the prince tested his ball hockey skills during a visit to the Somba K'e Civic Plaza in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on July 5, 2011. (PHIL NOBLE / REUTERS)

By Katie DaubsStaff Reporter

Tues., July 5, 2011

YELLOWKNIFE, N.W.T.—Prince William asked Emily Sturgeon if she was nervous speaking in public. The 15-year-old member of the Northwest Territories youth parliament said yes.

“Tell me about it,” he replied.

He really shouldn’t worry. While he’s doing quite nicely with the speeches — even the French and Dene bits — Canadians are just excited to have something to watch, for a change.

The last few royal tours have been pretty dry: Prince Charles went on an archeological dig (yawn), Camilla rubbed the forelock of a horse (not as weird as it sounds), and Queen Elizabeth II toured the RIM factory (you don’t need athletic gear for that.)

On this tour, we’ve had a historic helicopter landing, a dragon boat race capped with a hug, a cooking class, and in Yellowknife, a spot of ball hockey.

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Of course, like his relatives, the duke is adept at clapping, showing interest at cultural events, and ignoring screaming protesters in Quebec. But where Will and Kate excel is in the entertainment department. The others watch the show when they come to Canada. On this tour, Will and Kate have put it on.

“They try new things and aren’t as stuffy” as other royals, said Carrie Monks, a teacher in Yellowknife who was excited to see the hockey game.

On Tuesday, before he took a wrist shot in front of the crowds, William joked with the 20-year-old goaltender. “Let this go in,” the future king pleaded.

Not as confident as he is landing Sea King, the prince went 0-for-3 against Calvin Lomen, who at 6-foot-3, is on the tall end of the youth ambassadors.

On his last shot, the prince, feeling a little cocky, said “top left corner.” Then he pointed, did a deke, and missed the net completely as the crowd laughed.

“I tried giving him one.” Lomen said.

“So you’ve shut out the future King of England?” a reporter asked.

“Yes, I have and I’m sorry,” Lomen replied.

Lomen said the prince has a natural talent if he’d just practice a bit more. Maybe taking shots against the side of Kensington Palace.

Kate didn’t try to shoot the ball, even though the crowd pleaded with her.

The duchess got away with dropping the orange ball at the faceoff of a youth game, quickly retreating to avoid getting hit. The play stopped and she was handed the ball. Looking confused, like she’d done something wrong, she dropped it again.

“In our rehearsal she was supposed to keep the ball, as a thing to take home with her. I guess she didn’t know that,” said 16-year-old Gloria Francis. “I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to play around her, just in case we might knock her over or something.”

That would be bad for tourism. “Come to Northwest Territories. We bodycheck your royalty.”

Francis said Kate and Will “seemed more young.”

“Around my age,” she said. “More chill. I think it’d be different meeting the Queen.”

Kate left delighted faces in her wake with every conversation, as she has done at every stop. She took a real interest in the Dettah drummers, especially the youngest, who was quite expressive. She pointed and asked questions of an older member of the group.

“Woo!” she said when they finished.

“It’s great to be north of 60,” was how Will put it during his official remarks.

He said the Northwest Territories represent what Canada is about — vast open spaces, “resilience” and “friendly people.”

“Catherine and I are deeply honoured,” he said.

The crowd in downtown Yellowknife appeared to be one of the smallest crowds at a public event so far, but they cheered loudly when Will said Mahsi cho, Dene for “thank you,” during the speech.

During his speech, Premier Floyd Roland talked about the special ties between Canada’s Arctic, native people and the royals. He said they brought the best of the territories for the visit “calling on powerful people to change the weather” from drizzle to sunshine.

Later in the day, William and Catherine took a float plane to Blachford Lake, where they met with the Canadian Rangers, part-time reservists who conduct surveillance and sovereignty patrols in the territory. They also met with students and elders and toured organic gardens and had a roundfire discussion.

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